Rousseau on the Social Contract and the Equality of Man

<Tab/>Jean-Jacques Rousseau, in his essay concerning the origins of the inequality of man, has a view of natural man and civil man that is markedly different than previous thinkers like Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Rousseau sees natural man as free, self-sufficient and compassionate while Hobbes and Locke see man as mostly self-interested. This understanding of natural man is integral to Rousseau's view of civil society. <Tab/&…

…is in chains." While the poor believe they are protecting themselves they are merely preserving the right to property of the rich and allowing the inequality to continue. The Second Discourse on Inequality and Social Contract are very different in their final aim. Second Discourse shows that man, at least the poor man, can never be free in civil society while Social Contract Rousseau attempts to create a society where freedom is possible for all.